Protective covering for bedding in a convertible sofa-bed



J 1965 B. CASTRO 3,191,198

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR BEDDING IN A CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED Filed June 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR EEAIVA/PD 6467/? ATTORNE J1me 1965 B. CASTRO 3,191,198

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR BEDDING IN A CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED Filed June 27. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG? 'll' :II\

22 A -2 I; N 0| 72 i 7 24 s O 70 Wm 1 p u O o sms OI so Mill 0 H O M M L n V p F/ 6. 3 gs I 's s 25 30 as n s s s s a} gs /a g INVENTOR United States Patent 3,191,198 PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR BEDDING IN A CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED Bernard Castro, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., assignor to Castro Convertible Corporation, New Hyde Park, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 27, 1962, Ser. No. 205,627 7 Claims. (Cl. -320) This invention relates to an arrangement for protecting the bedding of a convertible sofa-bed from damage while the bed is being opened or closed. The invention particularly relates to an arrangement for preventing such bedding from being cut and mangled by the bed folding mechanism while the bed is being opened or closed.

Certain convertible sofa-beds are of the type that has linkage mechanisms which allow it to be folded into a U-shape when the sofa-bed is converted into a sofa. These mechanisms have parts which move past one another like the blades of scissors. Since the bedding is apt to bulge out at the sides when it is folded, it sometimes gets caught between parts of the mechanisms and is cut or torn. In addition to tearing the bedding, this jams the mechanisms and makes the bed hard to fold and unfold.

Other arrangements have been proposed in the past to remedy this problem, as for example, that shown in my US. Letters Patent No. 2,818,584. The embodiment of this invention which is shown in the drawings is an improvement over these prior arrangements.

The main object of this invention is to provide an arrangement for preventing the bedding of a convertible sofa-bed from being cut and mangled, which arrangement is of simple construction, can be made at a low cost, and can be fitted easily onto the sofa-bed by its owner without special tools or training. Other objects will be pointed out in or understood from the description and drawings presented below.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sofa-bed incorporating one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the sofa-bed of FIGURE 1 when folded up to be used as a sofa, and;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1.

A convertible sofa-bed is shown in FIGURE 1. It is, for example, of the type described in US. Letters Patent No. 2,991,484, and has bed sections including an inner section 12, an intermediate section 14, and an end section 16. Sections 12, 14 and 16 each include L-shaped side rails 18 between which is stretched a set of springs, generally indicated at 20. The springs 20 support bedding 22, which may include sheets, blankets and a mattress, all of which are folded when the bed is converted to a sofa.

Sections 12, 14 and 16 are pivoted together by a pair of bed folding mechanisms 24 which permit the sections to be folded into a U-shape when the bed is folded into a sofa. Only one of the mechanisms 24 is shown since the other appears on the far side of the bed and is the mirror image of the one shown. Mechanisms 24 each include folding legs 26 and 28 together with bracing and automatic leg-folding levers and links which are shown in FIGURE 1 and are described in detail in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,991,484, which description is made a part of this specification. When the sofa-bed is folded and unfolded, these links and levers pass one another like the blades of a pair of scissors.

3,191,198 Patented June 29, 1965 ICC the bedding 22 and one of the mechanisms 24 at the point where the bedding folds. The aprons 30 and 32 are wrapped over the edges of the bedding and are tied together by means of elastic straps 34 and 36 which are fastened together by one of a set of snaps 38. The tension in the straps may be adjusted by changing the choice of snap used to fasten them together. The aprons are pulled toward each other and connected just before the sofa-bed 10 is folded into a sofa.

The tension in the straps 34 and 36 holds the aprons together so that they compress and hold the sides of the bedding away from the mechanisms 24 (see FIGURE 2) at the place where the bedding folds to prevent the bedding from becoming caught in the links and levers of the mechanisms as the bed is unfolded or folded. In addition, the aprons hold the bedding firmly against the bed springs and help prevent it from shifting on the bed. When the bed is unfolded and prepared for sleep, the aprons are separated by unfastening the snap 38, and are folded down over the mechanisms 24. When in this position, the aprons protect a person using the bed from hurting himself on some of the protruding parts of the linkages.

FIGURE 3, shows the manner in which the aprons are attached to their lower ends to the bed. Three cords 40 are attached to the bottoms of aprons 30 and 32. Each is tied to a convenient spring 42 which is attached to the bed rail 18. The use of tie cords 40 makes it a simple matter for anyone, including an ordinary homeowner, to attach the aprons to the bed without special tools or training. Furthermore, when the aprons are attached in this manner they protect the bedding from becoming caught in the springs 42 when the bed is folded or unfolded.

Aprons 30 and 32 are preferably made of a rectangular piece of heavy cloth with its two top corners folded over and sewn to the body of the apron. Tie cords 40 are made of similar material and are sewn to the bottom of the apron body.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use solely with a sofa-bed such as described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,991,484, but can advantageously be applied to any convertible bed where, during folding and unfolding, the bedding is exposed at the sides to scissor-like action of the bed mechanism.

The above description of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not in limitation thereof. Various minor changes or modifications in the embodiment described may occur to those skilled in the art and these can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a convertible bed of the type adapted to be folded to form a sofa, said bed including a number of hinged sections, bedding supported between said sections, said bedding including a matress having at least one substantially integral mattress section, and a bed folding mechanism at each side of said bed, each of said mechanisms being adapted to bend and fold said integral mattress sec tion to guide said bed into and out of a folded position, each of said mechanisms including a set of links and levers passing one another in scissors-like fashion when said bed is folded and unfolded; a pair of flexible covers, each of which is positioned between one side of said bedding and one of said sets of links and levers and is adapted to cover a portion of said one side of said bedding, said portion of said one side of said bedding including a region of said integral mattress section in which it is bent for folding, and means for drawing said covers toward each other and connecting them together to hold said sides of said bedding inwardly and prevent said bed- 3 ding from being damaged by contact with said links and levers while said bed is being folded and unfolded.

2. In a convertible bed which is adapted to be folded and unfolded and in which the bedding is exposed at its sides to the scissor-like action of bed folding mechanisms, said bed having sections including an intermediate section, a connecting section hinged thereto, and an end section hinged to said connecting section, a bed spring structure, bedding supported by said sections and spring structure,tsaid bedding including a matresshaving at least one substantially integral mattress section, each of'said bed ,7

responding set of links and levers, is attached at its bot- 1 1 tom tosaid bed, and is foldable over a side of said bed ding in the region of the bend in the U-shaped fold in said bedding, and means for attaching said protectors together at their tops and for drawing thern'together to prevent said'sides of said bedding from becoming entangled'in said folding mechanisms. i

3. In a convertible bed which is adapted to be folded and unfolded and in which the bedding is exposed: at its sides to scissor-like action of the'bed folding mechanism,

the combination of two sidefolding linkages with a bed spring structure between them, bedding supported on said spring structure, said bedding including a mattress havingat least one substantailly integral mattress section, each of said linkages being adapted to bend and fold said integral mattress section to guide said bed'into and out of a folded position, each of said linkages having a plurality of hinged sections with levers and linkspi voted thereto, and a pair of protective guards made of flexible material, each of which is attached at-its bottom 'to said bed and is positioned between said bedding and, one of said sidefolding linkages, each of said guardsibeing fold able over one side of said bedding in a region'of said integral mattress section in which it is bent for folding, and elastic means for attaching said guards to one another while said bed is being folded or unfolded and for holding said bedding out of con-tactwith said' side' foldto one of said guards and having a fastener at its other sides to scissor-like action of the bed mechanisms, the combination'of two side folding linkages with, a bed spring structure between them, bedding supported on said springs, said bedding including a mattress having at least one substantially integral mattress section, each of said linkages being adapted to bend and fold said integral mattress section to guide said bed into andout of a folded position, each of said linkages having a plurailty of hingedsections with levers and links pivoted thereto, and a pair of protective guardsmade of flexible material, each of which is attached at its bottom to said bed by means of tie-cords tied to convenient members of said spring structure, each o f'said guards being positioned be tween said bedding and one of said side folding linkages and being foldable over one ,side'of said bedding in a region of said integral mattress section in which it is bent for folding, a pair of elastic straps, each of which is attached at one. endeto the top of one of said guards and hasa fastenerat its other end, said fasteners being engageable to fasten said straps together in a taut condition to pull said guards together and hold said bedding out of contact with said sidefolding linkages while said bed is i being folded'or unfolded,'said fasteners being disengageable to allow said guards tocover said side folding linkages and protect the user of said bed from direct contact with said linkages. g

7. In a convertible sofa-bed'including a pair of side folding linkages each of which'has a number of hinged sections, bedding supported between said sections, said bedding including a mattress having at least'one substantiallyj integral mattress. section, and a plurality of links section in folding said bed, said links and levers being pivotally connected to said 'sections'soas to pass one another in scissors-like fashion-while said bed is being folded and unfolded, the combination'of a pair of flexible "covers, each of which is positioned between one of'said linkages and said bedding and is adapted to be folded over 'an edge .of said bedding in a region of said integral mattress section in-which it is bent for folding, and, alternatively, over aside folding linkage, andmeans for attaching and drawing said covers together to prevent said .bedding from being damaged due to contact with said links and levers while said bed is being folded and unfolded,

'said attaching means 'being releasable to prepare said bed for sleeping and to allow said cove-rstto drape over said side folding linkagestandt protect the beds user from direct contact with s'aidlinkages.

end engageable with a mating fastener connected to the 1 other of said guards so that said guardsmay be-released from one another in preparing said bedtobe slept on. 1

6. In a convertible bed which .is adapted to be folded and unfolded and in which the bedding is exposed at the References Cited by the Examiner 'UNITED- STATES PATENTS RA SHERRY, Priniary Examiner. V 

1. IN A CONVERTIBLE BED OF THE TYPE ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED TO FORM A SOFA, SAID BED INCLUDING A NUMBER OF HINGED SECTIONS, BEDDING SUPPORTED BETWEEN SAID SECTIONS, SAID BEDDING INCLUDING A MATTRESS HAVING AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY INTEGRAL MATTRESS SECTION, AND A BED FOLDING MECHANISM AT EACH SIDE OF SAID BED, EACH OF SAID MECHANISMS BEING ADAPTED TO BEND AND FOLD SAID INTEGRAL MATTRESS SECTION TO GUIDE SAID BED INTO AND OUT OF A FOLDED POSITION, EACH OF SAID MECHANISMS INCLUDING A SET OF LINKS AND LEVERS PASSING ONE ANOTHER IN SCISSORS-LIKE FASHION WHEN SAID BED IS FOLDED AND UNFOLDED; A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE COVERS, EACH OF WHICH IS POSITIONED BETWEEN ONE SIDE OF SAID BEDDING AND ONE OF SAID SETS OF LINKS AND LEVERS AND IS 